Canon MF271dn / MF272dw / MF274dn / MF275dw: It Prints, but Does Not Scan — MF Scan Utility Says “Cannot communicate with the scanner”

Last Updated on 14.04.2026 by DriverNew

Applies to models: Canon MF271dn, MF272dw, MF274dn, MF275dw.

If the machine prints but, when you try to scan through MF Scan Utility, the error “Cannot communicate with the scanner” appears, the problem is most often related to remote scan mode, network registration of the machine, or an incorrect driver installation, not to a scanner hardware failure.

How the problem appears

• printing works normally;
• scanning through MF Scan Utility does not start;
• a message appears saying that communication with the scanner cannot be established;
• the same machine may scan normally on another computer.

Where to start

1. Restart the multifunction printer.
2. Restart the computer.
3. If the machine is connected over the network, make sure the computer and the printer are on the same network.
4. Then try scanning again.

Step 1. Switch the multifunction printer to [Remote Scanner] mode

1. On the [Home] screen, select [Scan].
2. Press [Remote Scanner].
3. Then return to the computer and try scanning again.

Step 2. Check <Auto Online>

1. On the printer control panel, open <Menu>.
2. Go to <Function Settings> → <Common> → <Scan Settings>.
3. Check <Auto Online>.
4. If it is off, turn it on.

Step 3. For a network connection, check Canon MF Network Scanner Selector

1. In the Windows notification area next to the clock, find the Canon MF Network Scanner Selector icon.
2. Open it.
3. Make sure your machine is selected in the list.
4. If not, select it and click [OK].

Step 4. Check whether the correct machine is selected in MF Scan Utility

1. Open MF Scan Utility.
2. In [Scanner] or [Product Name], select your machine.
3. If several Canon entries are shown, try selecting the correct one manually.

Step 5. Check whether the network is using only IPv6

For Canon network scanning, a normal IPv4 environment is important. If the network is non-standard and uses only IPv6, scanning may not work.

Step 6. Check <Use Dedicated Port>

1. On the printer control panel, open <Menu>.
2. Go to <Preferences> → <Network>.
3. Find <Use Dedicated Port>.
4. Make sure it is turned on.

Step 7. Reinstall the official Canon package

1. Remove the machine from Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Remove MF Scan Utility and the Canon driver.
3. Restart the computer.
4. Download the official Canon package for your model and install it again.

How to quickly tell where the problem is

• if scanning works on another computer, the problem is most likely in Windows or the driver on one specific PC;
• if everything works after manually selecting [Remote Scanner], the cause was the scanner standby mode;
• if printing works but scanning does not, the problem is usually not the network as a whole, but the network scanner setup.

Brief conclusion

For the Canon MF271dn, MF272dw, MF274dn, and MF275dw, the error “Cannot communicate with the scanner” is most often resolved by checking [Remote Scanner], <Auto Online>, machine registration in Canon MF Network Scanner Selector, and reinstalling the official Canon package.